The Eko Club International (ECI), a global body of Lagos Diaspora indigenes, has offered free medical check-ups, medications and treatment to over 6,000 indigent residents of Lagos State.
The President of ECI, Chief Saheed Olushi, said this at a dinner in the palace of Elegbeda of Egbeda, Oba Abdul-Hammed Oorelope-Laka, after the club’s 2024 Medical Mission, held in some Lagos communities.
The intervention in Egbeda in Alimosho Local Council was carried out in partnership with the Omo Adugbo Egbeda Association, a community-based group. According to him, the club, with 25 Diaspora chapters including Canada, UK and US, finds it necessary to regularly come together to provide resources and channel them back to their state of origin for the benefit of the people.
“This project is something that we have been doing since 2007, giving back to the community. Our intervention in the community spreads across a few cadres.
“Healthcare is the primary one and that is why we are here this time for our 2024 medical mission. During this mission, we have visited five different locations to provide free healthcare services, free medication, free eyeglasses, free dental services and others.
“We have also offered free cancer screening for the women, and prostate screening for the men. We are also sponsoring paediatric limb deformation surgeries for children who have some type of bone deformation in their legs.
“We are doing corrective surgery for first 10 at the General Hospital in Lagos. We have reached out to about 6,000 people in this 2024 intervention,” Olushi said.
The president added that medical equipment and supplies valued at millions of US dollars were brought from abroad to Lagos for donation to Lagos State hospitals, in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
He listed communities touched in the 2024 medical mission to include Oko Faaji community in Lagos Island, Egbeda and Ipaja-Ayobo areas in Alimosho area, Ikosi- Ejinri in Epe and Ipakodo in Ikorodu since November 2 it started. He said that the club would also distribute some palliatives to various groups and indigent residents on Friday before returning to their various nations of abode.
The Atona-Odo of Egbeda Kingdom and President of Omo Adugbo Egbeda Association, Chief Sunday Obisesan, applauded the organisers, saying the gesture aligned with the association’s objectives of alleviating sufferings.
Also speaking, Elder Akindele Ojo (JP), the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Omo Adugbo Egbeda Association, who also commended ECI, said that the intervention has removed burdens off some hundreds of people in the community.
Some beneficiaries of various free health interventions, Messrs Adeleke Adekoya, Abolaji Sode and Mrs Olayinka Ogunsola took turns to applaud the ECI for the gesture.
Commenting, Oba Abdul-Hammed Orelope-Laka, the Elegbeda of Egbeda Kingdom said: “I am very excited to see members of Eko Club Intentional coming together to help the struggling masses. As the king here, this is motivating.”
